Washing machine



Oct. 120, 1936: H. JOHNSTON 2,058,083

'WASHING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 30, 1930 14 sheets-sheet 2 4 6 5 4 A N V 5:5,; 3 .HIMIJ J 4 0 W 7 w w 0 W. o o, 7 flrlk v L l 7-- T m w Mm i, 9 A M w wa w INVENTOR BY W /M ATTORN EY Oct. 20, 1936. I JQHNSTON 2,058,083

-' WASHING MACPIINE Original Filed Aug. 30, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOff BY W Get. 20, 1936.

H. JOHNSTON 7 2,058,083

WASHING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 50, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVFNTOR BY AQAWJW W 7' )lc-r/ ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 20, 1936 WASHING MACHINE Herbert L. Johnston, Troy, Ohio, assignor to The Hobart Manufacturing Company, Troy, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Original application August so, 1530, Serial No.

478,978. Divided and this application January 11, 1933, Serial No. 651,181. In Canada August 25, 1931 19 Claims.

This invention relates to washing machines. One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of a washing machine of simple construction whichis adaptable to various installation conditions, may be readily set up for service, and is capable of sustained use without deterioration of the washer parts.

Another objectof the invention is the provision of a washing machine which is so constructed that the various operations may be carried out in rapid sequence, the arrangement of parts being such that the operator is required to follow a proper procedure inthe cycle of operations.

Another object of the 'invention' is the pro-- vision of a washing machine having a movable dooror doors which are positively interlocked with the control members for the wash water and rinse water supplies so as. to prevent opening of the door or doors when either of the control members is turned on, and to prevent turning on of either of the control members when a door is moved out of closed position.

Still another object of the invention is the provision in a washing machine of this character having a sliding door or doors of an improved form of counterweight construction for the door or doors, aifording ready assembly of the counterweight.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

This is a division of my copending application Serial No. 478,978, filed August 30, 1930.

In the drawings, in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the. several views thereof-- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of .a washing machine constructed in accordance with this invention; some of the parts being shown in-section for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation-of the washing machine;

Fig. 3 is a plan viewof the washing machine in which some of the'parts are broken away;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the valve control; K

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary showing of the valve control;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the valve control for the wash liquid supply; and Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the plane-of the line 'l-Jof Fig. 5.

The washing machine comprises generally a frame within which is mounted a wash water circulating pump and driving motor therefor, a

. washing compartment, and an enclosing housing for the washing compartment; the housing being provided with suitable doors for the reception and withdrawal of racks of dishes and like articles.

Referring to the drawings, which disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention, themachin'e is provided with a cast metal base l having a bottom portion II and extending flanges I 2; the base being'substantially rectangular in shape. Suitable supporting members I3, which are preferably of angular cross section, extend upwardly from the-corners of the base portion III for the support of the washing machine structure. The washing compartment comprises an open top tank which is composed of side walls and a bottom wall 15 suitably joined as by welding to form a liquid tight compartment which may be attached as a unit to the upright members l3 'to which it is secured as by means of 'bolts. 'The bottom wall l comprises an upper substan:

tially horizontally extending portion l6 which extends part way across the bottom of the tank,

then extends downwardly as indicated at I! to substantially the level of the base l0, then continues on a substantially horizontal plane to join the rear wall of the tank. This arrangement of parts. provides a washing compartment, comprising the four vertically extending walls It and the bottom wall l5, which in its lower extended portion incorporates a water supply chamber or sump l8 formed by the downwardly extending wall portion I1 and the side walls It. The area beneath the bottom wall portion l6. and adjacent the wall portion ll provides a space which is freely openand exposed at the sides and front of the machine. This space provides 'a readily accessible location for a wash water circulating pump and its driving motor 2|; the driving motor being suitably supported upon the base portion 1 I as by means of attaching bolts 22.

enclosing casing for the washing compartment, The side and front walls I terminate in outwardly. extending flanges which are shown positioned at substantially the level of a work table for shelf to permit racks vof dishes to be readily moved intoand withdrawn from the machine. Angle bars 26, which are positioned at the forward corners of the washing oompa'rt ment and are suitably Joined to the members ll by connecting bolts, extend upwardly from'the I4, provide a support for the top 28 of the machine. The angle bars 26, in cooperation with the rear wall |4', form guides for suitable movable doors 30 which in their closed position extend from the flanges 25 to the top of the machine and, with the rear wall l4, provide a water tight enclosing housing for the washing compartment.

The supporting frame comprising the angle members l3 and 26 is provided with brackets 32 for the support of suitablerack guides or tracks 34 which are adapted to carry the racks or trays holding the dishes or articles to be washed within the casing. The rack guides 34 may be shaped to permit the dish carrying racks to be entered at one side of the machine and be withdrawn from the opposite side, or to be entered from one side and withdrawn from either of the adjacent sides; this arrangement of parts providing a machine which is readily adaptable to meet various conditions of installation. The doors are adapted to slide vertically and operate in grooves 36 formed between the angle members 26 and guide members 31 which are attached to the inside surface of the angle members.

A mechanism is provided whereby the two doors through which the racks are entered or withdrawn may be operated simultaneously; the arrangement being such that movement of one door automatically effects corresponding movement in the other door. This door operating mechanism includes a counterbalance weight so that the door movement 'may be accomplished with but little efiort. Each of the doors regularly used, Whichas illustrated in Fig. 3 comprises the oppositely positioned doors, is provided with a connecting chain 38 which is attached at one end to the lower edge of the door by means of an attaching bracket 39 and is connected at the opposite end to the counterbalancing weight 4|; suitable supporting pulleys 42 being provided for the guidance of the chains 38. The counterbalance 4|, which is preferably a cast member, is provided with oppositely extending forks 44 which are adapted to engage spaced rods 45 to properly guide the travel of the weight 4|. The guide members 45 are supported from the machine by suitable brackets 46 and are shaped to stand substantially parallel throughout the normal range of travel of the counterweight, and to flare outwardly beyond the normal range of travel so that by lifting the weight to a position beyond its normal range of travel it may be readily withdrawn from the guides. This arrangement of guide members facilitates the assembly of the machine and permits the counterweight to be inserted in operating position without disturbing the assembled guide members. The weight of the member 4| is adjusted to substantially balane the combined weights of the two doors to which it is connected so that upon manual actuation of one door the balance of weight will be such as to automatically actuate the other connected door. The chains 38 pass through the top cover member 28 within suitable guides 48 and, as mentioned, are attached to the lower edges of the doors so that these doors may be raised to substantially the full opening of the housing to completely expose the interior of the housing. The upward movement of the doors is limited by contact of the attaching members 38' with rubber bumpers 50 which are carried upon brackets level of the flanges 25 and, with the rear wall 5| suitably mounted on the supporting angles 26. Downward movement of the counterweight 4| is limited by springs 53 which are positioned upon the guides45 and rest upon the lower supportingbrackets 46. The arrangement of counterweight and connecting chains is such that I any two doors may be readily attached to the counterweight; the attached doors being those in the path of travel of the dish racks.

The electric motor 2| which drives the pump 20 is'provided with an extending armature shaft 60 which extends through a suitable stufling box 6| into the interior of the pump for actuation of the pump impeller 62. The housing -64 of the pump is provided with an attaching structure 65 whereby the pump is supported at one side directly from the frame of the motor 2|. The pump housing, which is preferably of substantially cylindrical cross section, encloses the impeller 62 which comprises a plate portion 61 upon which are formed a plurality of vanes 68. Upon actuation of the pump by its driving motor wash water is drawn from the sump through an intake 10 connecting the sump to a suction opening in the pump housing 64. The rotating impeller forces the water drawn from the sump through a discharge pipe 1|, preferably formed as an integral part of the housing 64, to a valve 12. The motor and pump, including the circulating pipes 10 and H comprise a unitary structure which may be readily assembled in position upon the washing machine by merely attaching the motor to the base I0 by means of screws 22, by completing the connection of the pipe H to the valve 12, and by providing a water tight joint at the point of entrance of the suction pipe 10 within the sump i8. As shown, the end of-the pipe 10 which enters the sump 3 through an opening I8 is threaded for the reception of suitable lock nuts 10'; one being provided on the pipe on the exterior of the sump while the other is adapted to be positioned on the pipe on the interior of the sump after assembly. Suitable gaskets are provided between the nuts and the sump wall so that upon drawing the nuts tight a water tight joint will be provided. The valve 112 is shown positioned on the interior of the washing compartment adjacent the horizontally extending wall i6 and is provided with a contacting flange 13 which is adapted to coact with a similarly shaped flange 14 on the discharge'pipe 1| to provide a water tight passage for washing fluid from the pump through the casing member IE to the interior of the valve 12.

The valve 12 comprises a casing 15 which is substantially cylindrical in cross section and which is provided with suitable passages 16 and flanged connections 11 for the attachment of connecting pipes leading to suitable wash water discharge nozzles such as the rotary wash arms shown. A hollow cylindrical valve member 18 is rotatably mounted within the valve casing 15 and is provided with opposed slots I9 which in open position 'of the valve member are adapted to coincide with discharge openings 16 in the valve casing connecting to the wash arm conduits. The provision of separate slots IS in the valve member for each wash arm conduit results in an independent connection between the wash water supply pipe ii and each conduit so that the flow of water to each wash arm is balanced. The valve member 18, which is rotatably mounted within the casing Iii, is provided with an axially extending stem 80 which is suitably supported within a sleeve 8I formed in the valve housing. The stem 88 extends beyond the exterior of the housing 15 and has fixed to it an operating arm 82 to which suitable linkage is attached connecting the arm 82 to an operating handle. As shown, the operating handle comprises a lever 85 which is positioned on the exterior of the machine adjacent a corner of the top 28. The lever 85 is fixed to a rotatably movable connecting rod 88 which is suitably-supported at one end by means of a bracket 81 provided on the top member 28 and is guided at it's lower end in a bracket 88 which is shown formed on a portion of the wash water distributing structure. The rod 88 has attached to it a crank arm 89 which'has pivotally connected to it at 98 an adjustable linkage 9| whose opposite end is pivotally connected at 92 to the arm 82. Movement of the control arm or operating handle 85 results in corresponding movement of the valve member 18.

Wash water from the valve 12 is carried to the several wash arms by means of the conduits or connecting pipes which are attached by suitable means to the flanges 11 of the valve casing-15; the pipe 85 providing a communicating passage from the valve to a lower wash arm 96, while the pipe 81 provides a fluid passage to an upper wash arm 98. As shown, the pipe 95extends from the valve 12 to substantially the vertical center line of the machine and there is provided with an elbow I88 which terminates in an open upstanding end. A vertical shaft IN is suitably supported within the elbow I88 and forms a journal upon which the wash arm 98 is mounted. This wash arm 88 comprises a hollow member which is freely rotatable upon the supporting shaft IM and is provided with a plurality of sprayopenings I 83- which direct the wash water upwardly. Certain of the spray openings are inclined so that the reaction forces of the water on the nozzles impart a rotating movement to the wash arm. The wash arm is maintained in position upon the shaft by means of a hand nut I84 which is threadedly received upon the upper threaded end of shaft I8 I.

The distributing pipe 91, which is positioned within the confines of the washing compartment and housing, extends from the valve casing 15 to a corner of the washing machine housing, then extends upwardly toward the top of the housing,

then inwardly for attachment to an elbow or conduit member I85 which is positioned within and substantially upon the vertical center line of the machine. The member I85 provides a fluid conduit for wash water from the pipe 91 to the upper wash arm 88, which is rotatably supported by a stem or shaft (not shown) which is mounted in a bearing carried by a supporting member I88 mounted on the exterior of the cover 28.

Means are provided for supplying rinse water to the interior of the housing including a supply pipe I51, which may be attached to some suitable source of rinsing water, and a control valve I58 which is adapted to'be actuated from the control lever 85. A pipe connection I88 extends from the valve I58 to the interior of the housing where branch pipes, I88 connect to suitable rinse nozzles- I8I which are shown positioned adjacent the top of the washing compartment to direct sprays of rinse water downwardly towards the articles being washed. .A pipe I82, which is shown positioned adjacent the rear wall of the housing and out of the path of travel of the dish racks, extends downwardly from the pipe I88 and has connected to it branch pipes I82 to which additional rinse adapted to constantly urge the valve to closed po-- sition. An arm I85 is pivotally supported at I88 upon a bracket I81 carried by the valve I58; the

arm I85 be? 1g provided with an adjustable stud I 88 which is adapted upon actuation of the arm to contact with the stern I84 to open the valve. The arm I85 is positioned so that upon movement of the lever 85 in one direction a roller member I18 carried by the lever 85 will contact with and actuate the arm I85 to open the rinse valve.

The rinse valve actuating arm I65 and the wash water valve member 18 are positioned with respect to one another so that actuation of the control lever 85 in one direction will permit opening of one valve and movement in the reverse direction will permit opening of the other valve. As shown, the lever 85 will, upon being moved in a counterclockwise direction irom the neutral position shown in Fig. 4, contact with the arm I85 to actuate the rinse valve. Upon movement of the valve in a clockwise direction from neutral position, the valve member 18 will be moved to bring the slots 19 into registration with the passages 18 to permit the flow of wash water from the pump to the wash arms 98 and 88. For the convenience of the operator the wash lever 85 carries a spring pressed detent I'lI which cooperates with spaced holes formed in the supporting bracket 81 .to permit the control lever 85 to be maintained in either neutral or washing. position without requiring the operator to'hold the valve in either of these positions. As shown, a detent retaining hole I12 is 7 provided at the neutral position, and a second hole I13 is provided to maintain the valve handle in washing position. No detent hole is provided for the rinse position as it is desirable to require the operator to intentionally maintain the valve in this position against the tension of the rinse valve spring to prevent the waste of rinse water. Upon completion of the washing operation, the opera- -tor moves the control lever 85 in a counterclockwise direction from washing position to rinsing position where the valve must be held to be maintained open against the spring tension exerted on the stem I84. At this time hot rinsing water is outwardly extending flanges I15 which have provided therein slots I18 so positioned that with the lever 85in neutral position (shown in Fig. 4) the doors 38 adjacent the control lever 85 may be opened by sliding upwardly through the slots [18 In any other position of the control lever open. As shown, the lever 85 provided with the flanges overlie the upper edges of these doors so that the operator is prevented from raising 1 these doors during a washing or rinsing operation. This arrangement of interlock between the control lever and the doors, and the provision of the interconnected counterweight makes it impossible to move the control lever from neutral position when any of the doors are opened; the

doors positioned adjacent the interlock flange being adapted to cooperate with the flange directly to prevent valve movement, while the door positioned away from the flange is adapted to cooperate through the interconnecting counterweight chains to actuate an adjacent door. With the valve in operating position the adjacent doors are locked closed by the interlock flange. The remotely positioned door, although not positively maintained closed, is relieved of the balancing effect of the counterweight upon latching the adjacent doors. I remotely positioned door under these clrcumstances it is necessary to lift the entire weight of the door. This serves as a reminder that the door is not to be opened.

The side of the wash water chamber or sump I8 is provided with an overflow connection I93 which is connected by a pipe I94 to a. drain line I95. A drain pipe I91 connects the bottom of the chamber or sump I8 to a drain valve I98 having a suitable control handle I99 arranged within convenient reach of the operator so that the sump may be quickly drained into the drain pipe I95. The overflow connection I93 is constantly maintained open to the drain pipe I so that a maximum predetermined fluid level in the sump will not be exceeded, and also to permit surface layer of grease and waste material to be drained from the washing fluid. The drain connection I9'I is under control of the handle I99 and is opened only upon actuation of the handle.

For convenience in placing the machine in operation and to permit a rapid filling of the chamber or sump It with wash water at the beginning of washing operations a pipe connection is provided to the washing compartment from a supply of wash water and is under control of the hand valve 200. The pipe connecting to the hand vaalve 2B0 may be joined to the pipe I57 supplying water to the rinse valve. To raise the temperature of the wash water within the sump a steam line may be provided for connection into the sump; a hand valve 202 being provided in this steam connection to regulate the flow to the interior of the sump where any suitable form of injector or bubbler arrangement may be provided to eiIect transfer of heat from the steam to the wash water.

It will now be apparent that there is provided a washing machine of compact form and simple construction which is adapted to meet various conditions of installation requirements and which is adapted for rapid operation. The few moving parts of the machine are so constructed and protected against deterioration and wear that the machine may be operated for long periods of time without the need for replacement of parts. The control mechanism for the machine is so arranged that the operator is required to follow a proper procedure in the cycle of operation and is thereby protected against injury to himself by scalding or injury to the mechanism of the machine.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a washing machine, a casing, a sliding door in said casing having parallel side edges, spaced guide members in the casing extending Consequently upon opening the aosaoea lengthwise of the door and engaging the door side edges for guiding movement thereof, fluid distributing means, a valve in said fluid distributing means, valve operating means, and an interlock member having connection with said valveoperating means and movable therewith, said door and interlock member having intercepting paths of travel, the interlock member moving into the path of the door upon opening movement of the valve by the operating means to prevent opening movement of the door by overlying one guided edge or the closed door adjacent the door end, and said door, upon opening,moving into the path of the interlock to prevent opening of the valve when the door is open.

2. In a washing machine, a casing, a sliding door in said casing, fluid distributing means, a valve in said fluid distributing means, valve operating means, said valve operating means incorporating a notched flange movable therewith in the path of said door and adapted to cooperate directly with the door to provide an interlock, said flange notch being positioned with respect to the door to prevent actuation of the valve when the door is in an open position.

3. In a washing machine, a casing, a plurality of doors in said casing, a counterweight for said doors, means connecting a plurality of said doors to said counterweight whereby said counterweight is efiective to urge each connected door toward' open position, fluid distributing means in said casing, means for controlling the supply of fluid to said distributing means, and means eflective as an interlock between one of said doors and the said control means to prevent movement of the said one door from closed position when fluid is being supplied to said distributing means, the means connecting each of said doors to the said counterweight being so constructed that when the interlock is thus operated to prevent opening of the said one door the counterweight is rendered ineffective with respect to opening movement of the other door.

4. In a washing machine, a casing, a plurality of doors in said casing, at least one of said doors being operably remote from the remaining doors, counterweight mechanism including a plurality of connecting means attached to a selected plurality of said doors to make the counterweight mechanism effective in operation upon the selected ones of the plurality of doors, means within said casing for effecting distribution of fluid therein, means for controlling the supply of fluid to said distributing means, and means effective as an interlock between the said fluid control means and a door operatively connected to said counterweight mechanism, said interlock means being effective to positively prevent-movement'of an associated door from closed position when the fluid control means is open, and efiective through the counterweight mechanism in restraining opening movement of another door connected to the counterweight mechanism.

5. In a washing machine, a casing, a plurality of spaced individually operable doors in said casing, fluid distributing means, a valve in said fluid distributing means, valve operating means, and means cooperating with said plurality of doors to prevent actuation of the valve when any one of the doors is open and prevent actuation of said doors when the valve is open.

6. In a washing machine, a casing, a vertically movable sliding door in said casing, fluid distributing means, a-valve therefor, valve operating means, a control handle attached to said valve operating means, a latching .member having connection with said control handle, said door moving into the path of said latching member to interlock with said latching member when the door is opened to prevent actuation of the con-.

trol handle and thus permitting actuation of the control handle only when the door is closed.

7. In a washing machine, a casing, a door in said casing, wash waterv distributing means, rinse water distributing means, a control valve in each of said distributing means, operating mechanism for each of said control valves, a single control handle cooperating with said operating mechanisms and adapted to provide alternate actuation of said valves, and interlock mechanism effective to prevent actuation of either of said valves when the door is open and actuation of the door when either of said valves is open.

8. In a washing machine, a tank, a wash liquid distributor,'a rinse liquid distributor, a movable closure for said tank confining the fluids from said distributors, means for controlling the supply of wash liquid distributor to said wash liquid distributor, means for controlling the supply of rinse liquid to said rinse liquid distributor, a'

single manual control member for both of said controlling means for the wash liquid and rinse liquid, and interlock mechanism positively'eflective directlybetween said movable closure and said manual control member for preventing actuation of said control member to supply either wash liquid or. rinse liquid when the movable closure is in open position, and preventing movement of said closure out of closed position when said control member is in position to supply either wash liquid or rinse liquid to their respective distributors.

9. In a washing machine, a tank, liquid distributing means, means for supplying wash liquid to said liquid distributing means, means for sup-- plying rinse liquid to said liquid distributing means, a movable closure for said tank confining the liquids from said distributing means, a single control member for controlling both the wash liquid supply means and the rinse liquid supply means, and interlock mechanism positively eiiective directly between said movable closure and said control member'for preventing actuation of said controlmember to supply either wash liquid or rinse liquid when the movable closure is moved out of closed position, and preventing movement of said closure out of closed position when said control member is in position to supply either wash liquid or rinse liquid. I

10. vIn a washing machine, a tank having .a rack receiving opening, a fluid distributor, means for supplying fluid to said distributor, a door slidable in a plane for closing said rack receiving opening to confine fluid from said distributor within said tank, a control member for actuating said fluid supplying means, said control member having a portion for direct engagement with the door and located in the path of the opening movement of said door when in fluid supplying position to overlie and positively prevent opening of said door, said door in open position having a portion in the path of movement or said control member to positively prevent actuation of said control member to supply fluid.

11. In a washing machine, a tank having a rack receiving opening, a fluid distributor, means'for supplying fluid to said distributor, a slidable door for closingsaid rack receiving opening to confine fluid from said distributor within said tank, a

controlmember for actuating said fluid supplying means, and an interlock member fixed to said control member and positively moved thereby,

said interlock member being moved into a position in advance of the path of sliding movement of said door when the control member is moved'to supply fluid to said distributor to prevent opening of said door, said interlock member being moved out of the path of sliding movement of said door whenthe control member is moved to cut oil the supply of fluid to said distributor, and said door being moved when opened into the path-of move-. ment of said control member and interlock to prevent movement of the control member to'supply fluid to said distributor.

12. In a washing machine, a tank having a rack receiving opening at one side thereof, a fluid distributor, means for supplying fluid to said distributor, a door upwardly slidable along said tank for uncovering said rack receiving opening and downwardly slidable to close said opening to conflne fluid from said distributor, a control member for actuating said fluid supplying means, and an interlock member having connection with and movable with said control member and overlying the upper end of said slidable door in closed position thereof, said interlock member being moved by said control member to a position in the path of movement of said slidable door to prevent opening of said door when the control member is moved to position to supply fluid to said distributor, and being moved to a position out of the .path of movement of said door when the control member is moved to cut off the supply of fluid to said distributor, said door being moved when opened into direct interlocking engagement with said interlock member to prevent movement of the control member to supply fluidto the distributor.

r 13; In a washing machine, a tank having a rack receiving opening, a wash liquid supply means, a rinse liquidsupply means, a movable closure for closing said rack receiving opening and confining the wash liquid and rinse liquid from said supply means, a single control member for said wash liquid and rinse liquid supply means movable from a neutral position to a wash position and further movable to a rinse position, and an interlock member having connection with and positively movable with said control member into the path of movement oi. said closure to prevent opening of said closure when the control member is moved into either wash position or rinse position, said interlock member being moved out of the path of movement of said closure when the control mernmeans, a single control member 'for said wash liquid and rinse liquid supply means including a control handle rotatable from a neutral position in one direction to a wash position, and rotatable from the neutral position in the opposite direction to a rinse position, and an interlock member having connection. with and positively movable with a said control member into the path of sliding movement of said door to prevent opening 01' said door when said control handle is rotated to either wash or rinse positions, said interlock member having a slot which is aligned with said door when the control handle is in neutral position to provide for opening of the door, said door being moved when opened into said slot in interlocking engagement with the interlock member to prevent movement of said control handle to either wash or rinse positions.

15. In a washing machine, a casing, a fluid distributor, means for supplying fluid to said distributor, a plurality of individually operable spaced doors for said casing for confining the fluid from said distributor, a control member for said fluid supplying means, and interlock means having connection with and movable with the control member, said interlock means cooperating with said plurality of doors to prevent actuation of said control member to supply fluid to said distributor except when all said doors are' closed, and to prevent opening l f any one of said doors except when said contrc' member is in position cutting oh the supply if iluid to said distributor.

16. In a washing machine, a casing having a 'rack receiving opening and a separate rack discharge opening, a fluid distributor, means for supplying fluid to said distributor, separate doors for closing said openings to confine the fluid from said distributor, a control member for said fluid supplying means, and an interlock member having connection with and positively movable with said control member, said interlock member having portions movable into the direct path of -ing said openings for confining the fluid from said distributor, a counterweight, connections from two of said doors to said counterweight so that said two doors operate in unison, a control member for said fluid supplying means, and interlocking means between said control member and one of said two counterweighted doors to prevent opening of said two doors under the action of said counterweight when said control member is in position to supply fluid to said distributor, said interlocking means being also effective between said control member and said third door to also prevent opening of the said third door in the fluid supplying position of said control member.

18. In a washing machine, a casing having a rack receiving opening and a rack discharging opening, a wash liquid supply means, a rinse liquid supply means, separate doors for closing said openings and confining the liquid from said supply means, a single control member for both said wash liquid supply means and said rinse liquid supply means, and movable from a neutral position to a wash position and further movable to a rinse position, and interlock means preventing opening of both of said doors when the said control member is in either wash position or rinse position, and preventing actuation of said control member to either wash position or rinse position when either one or both of said doors are open.

19. In a washing machine, a casing having three doors, a counterweight mechanism, means connecting a selected pair of the doors to the counterweight mechanism, means for efiecting fluid distribution within the casing, means for controlling the supply of fluid to said distributing means, means for actuating the fluid control means comprising an interlock effective between the fluid control means and another pair of said doors, said interlock being efiective to prevent movement of either of the associated doors from closed position when the fluid control means is actuated to supply fluid to said distributing means, and said counterweight mechanism being effective as an impositive interlock to control movement of the other door when the fluid control means is so actuated.

HERBERT L. JOHNSTON. 

